Nancy Drew and The Hidden Staircase adapts the 1930 novel of the same name, giving it a modern new take, and providing an origin story for the world’s most famous 16-year-old female sleuth. Nancy Drew (Sophia Lillis, IT, Sharp Objects) is a smart, perceptive, and deductive young woman, but it’s your typical nerd. She rides around on her skateboard, and is a bit of an activist/social justice warrior. After her mother passed away, Nancy’s father Carson (Sam Trammell, True Blood) and she moved from Chicago, to the small town of River Heights, where he grew up. They live with Nancy’s Aunt Hannah (Andrea Anders), who also moved back to the town after her failed stint as a comedian in New York City. Carson works as a lawyer, and is the leading force trying to stop a land developer from building a train line through River Heights, destroying its historic neighborhoods.

As the film opens, Nancy helps her friend get back at a cyber bully who humiliated her in front of the entire school. However, the boy she retaliates against is the son of one of the town’s wealthiest and most powerful men. This incident is just the latest in a pattern of delinquent behavior by Nancy, and Sheriff Marchbanks (Jay DeVon Johnson, Brockmire) has no choice but to assign her community service. Overseeing her trash-pickup is the young Deputy Patrick (Andrew Matthew Welch), whom Nancy finds easy to charm and take advantage of. One afternoon while performing her civic duty, Nancy overhears mean girl Helen Corning (Laura Wiggins, The Tomorrow People)—her arch-rival and the girlfriend of the boy she humiliated—and her great aunt Flora (Linda Lavin, Santa Clarita Diet, Alice) asking the sheriff to help investigate a haunting at her home. When the sheriff refuses, Nancy offers to help. Helen doesn’t like the idea of working with Nancy after what she did to her boyfriend, but Flora is drawn to Nancy’s wild side, seeing a bit of herself in the teenager, and invites her over. Nancy has her first case, and when she experiences the haunting for herself, she starts to wonder if Flora really was telling the truth, and that a ghost is responsible.

As Nancy looks into who might be behind the haunting, and what their motive and means could be, she also has some other issues to deal with. One day while skateboarding home, Nancy is nearly run over by a man who strongly “suggests” that she get her father to drop his efforts to stop the train line. And later, Nancy’s nerdy, outcast friends George (Zoe Renee, The Quad) & Bess (Mackenzie Graham) grow increasingly upset with Nancy as they see her cooperating with their arch-enemy, the rich, beautiful and popular Helen.

Nancy Drew and The Hidden Staircase has arrived on Blu-ray quite quickly—I just saw it in the theater the day it premiered, less than two weeks ago! While I enjoyed it again for the second time on this Blu-ray release, the first time I saw it in the theater, I couldn’t help but think that it felt like a direct-to-video or TV movie, or the pilot for a TV show for Netflix or The CW. Not that this is a bad thing—out of the four films I saw that weekend at the theater, this was easily the most enjoyable one. Nancy Drew and The Hidden Staircase is a fresh, fun new take on the Nancy Drew franchise that feels like Scooby-Doo set in a quirky small community like Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls.

Nancy is a strong, independent young woman, who is naturally smart and perceptive. She is strong willed, and this can get her into trouble, but she uses her smarts, determination, and deductive reasoning skills to work through any problems, even those in her family/personal life. She is a well-rounded young woman who is not constantly buried in books—she would rather be outside on her skateboard or some adventure. Nancy is not afraid to seek help from her friends when she doesn’t know the answer to something, or needs assistance. Sophia Lillis is delightful in this role, embodying the look and spirit of this iconic teenage detective. She has great chemistry with everyone she shares the screen with, whether it’s the wild, young-at-heart Flora, her enemy-turned-partner Helen, her best friends, or the handsome Deputy Patrick (I could definitely see something happening between these two a few movies down the line).

As Nancy and her friends look into the haunted house, the case takes some unexpected twists and turns that keep the audience guessing as they try to figure out who’s behind all of this and what they want. There a nice blend of drama, mystery, action, thriller (though not too intense for younger viewers), and lots of humor .In addition to the whole mystery aspect, the film also provides some good messages and role models for younger viewers. The characters learn to overcome their preconceived notions of one another, learn to appreciate their own strengths instead of being jealous of others and concentrating on their weaknesses, and learn to forgive one another.

I kind of wish this film had been a TV series pilot, as I would watch another Nancy Drew adventure with this cast/characters immediately if it was available! The end of the film sets up a potential next case for the new team of super-sleuths, and I hope we get to see it!

Warner Bros’ Blu-ray release looks excellent, providing a clean, detailed picture in both the darker haunted house scenes as well as the lighter outdoor scenes. The audio track is also quite good, with clear dialogue throughout the film, and often utilizing the surround and stereo channels to provide ambiance and enhance what is being seen on screen. One scene where this is especially noticeable is the first time Nancy experiences the haunted house, and light bulbs are exploding all around the room. Both the Blu-ray and DVD include the same selection of bonus material—about 14 minutes of behind-the-scenes featurettes/interviews and a gag reel. The discs come packed in a standard HD keepcase with a cardboard slipcover, and an insert containing the digital copy redemption instructions.

What’s Included:

Film: (1:29:14)

Blu-ray:
• 1080p / Widescreen 1.78:1
• Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1
• Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian

DVD:

• 480i / Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78:1
• Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1
• Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish

Digital (Redemption Deadline 6/30/2020):

• Digital Copy
  Movies Anywhere compatible HD digital copy of the film.

Extras:
All bonus features are included on The Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Copy. The latter also includes a photo gallery.

• A Sleuth, a Girl and an Inspiration (8:58)
  The cast and filmmakers talk about the legacy of Nancy Drew, their own experience with the novels, the inspiration this iconic character has had on women and girls, and the film’s more contemporary take on Nancy Drew. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with producer Jeff Kleeman, director Katt Shea, stars Sophia Lillis (“Nancy Drew”), Linda Lavin (“Flora”), Zoe Renee (“George Fayne”), Mackenzie Graham (“Bess Marvin”), Sam Trammell (“Carson Drew”), Jay DeVon Johnson (“Sheriff Marchbanks”) & Laura Wiggins (“Helen Corning”).
  
• Pink Footprints: Touring Twin Elms (4:44)
  The cast and filmmakers give viewers a tour of Flora’s house and take a look at how practical effects were used to bring the haunted house to life. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with production designer John Collins, producer Jeff Kleeman, and stars Linda Lavin & Sophia Lillis.
  
• Gag Reel (3:13)
  Fun with the cast as they eat way too many donuts, deal with malfunctioning props, flub/forget their lines, and more.

Final Thoughts:

Nancy Drew and The Hidden Staircase is a fun and exciting new take on the iconic Nancy Drew franchise, bringing this 88-year-old character into the modern world, making her a bit more edgy, smart, intelligent young woman who uses her deductive skills to solve mysteries as well as problems in her own life. The Blu-ray looks and sounds great, and includes a small but entertaining selection of bonus material. The cast is delightful, and I hope this is just the first of many adventures to come. This release comes highly recommended.